Tire-chain tightener



April 28, 1931. L, H, WENRICH I 1,802,689

TIRE CHAIN TIGHTENER Filed July 15, I928 gin wanton Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES LUTHER H. WENRICH, OF WERNERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA TIRE-CHAIN TIGH'IENER Application filed July 13,

The present invention is a tire chain tightener and has for its object a simple, efficient and durable tool for use in stretching the side chains of automobile anti-skid chains so that the free ends of the side chains may be fastened in a stretched condition, the tool being so constructed that its parts move to a position for holding and maintaining the chain in its stretched condition and to provide sufficient clearance to permit manipulation and fastening of the chain ends by the hands of the operator after being stretched or tightened. With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel detailed construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the appended claim.

In this specification and the annexed drawings, the invention is disclosed in the form in which it is considered to be the best, but the invention is not limited to such form because it is capable of being embodied in other forms, and it is to be understood that in and by the claim following the description herein it is intended to cover the invention in whatever form it may embody within the scope thereof.

In the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiment of the invention as at present devised,

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the tool in its opened position and explaining the same in the act of stretching the antiskid chain;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tool as shown in its full opened position in full lines and in its final position in dotted lines; and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken through the slotted portion of the lever.

Referring in detail to the drawings for a more complete understanding of the invention, and wherein like characters refer to like parts, 10 designates a lever or handle which comprises a substantially straight elongated member having one end formed with a hook 11. The handle 10 is also provided with a longitudinal elongated slot 12 extending from a point adjacent the hook 10 to a point adjacent the center thereof.

1928. Serial No. 292,501.

A floating arm 13 has plates 14 and 15 se- I cured to opposite sides ofone end thereof. These plates straddle the handle 11 and a suitable bolt or pivot pin 16 extends therethrough and the slot 12, the diameter of the 5 pin 16 being slightly less than the width of the slot 12 so as to permit the same to slide freely in the slot. The outer end of the arm 13 is provided with a hook 17 to engage in a link of the chain C, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will thus be seen that when the tool is applied, as shown in Fig. 1, the pivot pin will occupy a position at the inner end of the slot 12- so as to permit the hooks 11 and 17 to be spread apart the full limit, and, when a pull is exerted upwardly on the outer end of the handle in the direction of the arrow, the end portions of the side chains C will be brought together, thereby stretching or tightening the chain about the the or wheel T. The strain of this pull as transmitted to the pivot pin 16 will be against the lower end of the slot 12, but after the pull has been initiated, the pin will slide in the slot 16, thereby quickly shifting the point of fulcrum and increasing the leverage of the handle 10, and permitting the chain to be quickly and ifiectively stretched with a ininimmn of efort.

By this construction of the tool the ends of the stretched chain are held at points substantially spaced apart with the hooks 11 and 17 and the slot 12 so related that said hooks and pivot 16 are brought in approximate alignment, at the end of the stretching movement, and maintained in this position by the tension of the chain so that the operator may release his hands from the tool to fasten the chain ends, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

It will also be observed that hook 11 may be offset laterally and outwardly from the plane of the handle 10 so as to permit proper clearance for the tightened chain when the handle is in the dotted line position of Fi ure 2, and the arm 13 is so curved as to provide sufiicient space to permit manipulation of the chain end fasteners f by the hands of the operator. The combined length of the members 13 and 14 is such that when the parts are in tightening position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the distance between the pivot 16 and the hook-end 17 of the arm 13 is many times the distance bet-ween the extremity of the hook 11 and the adjacent end of the slot 12 so that suflicient space is provided between the hooked ends of the members to provide a clearance in which the fastener member and several links of chain may occupy in stretched condition.

The operation and advantages of the invention will be manifest from the foregoing description and the illustration in the draw ings.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is A tire chain tightening tool of the character described comprising a. substantially straight elongated lever formed with a hook rigid therewith at one end and the other end serving as a handle, said lever having an elongated slot therein extending longitudinally from the base of said hook for a distance along the length of the lever toward the middle of the lever, a rigid arm pivotally and slidably mounted at one end in said slot and formed with an arouate portion having a. hook at its other extremity, the arcuate arm being longer than the distance between the extremity of the first mentioned hook and the adjacent end of said elongated slot, said hooks and slot being so related that said hooks and pivot may be brought into approximate alignment by movement of the handle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

. LUTHER H. WVENRIGH. 

